Post-game notes, quotes

December 27, 2010 – New York Rangers 7, New York Islanders 2 (Game No. 37, Home No. 19)

The Rangers defeated the New York Islanders, 7-2, tonight at Madison Square Garden to improve to 21-14-2 overall, including a 9-8-2 mark at home. New York has registered a point in 15 of their last 22 games (14-7-1 over the span), and eight of their last 11 games at MSG (7-3-1).

The Blueshirts were credited with a season-high, 52 shots in the contest, their most since they registered 57 vs. the Islanders on Mar. 5, 2007 (2-1 win). The Rangers tied their season-high for most shots in a period with 18 in both the first and second periods, and their 36 shots through two periods is their most since recording 37 shots through two (20 in the 1st, 17 in the 2nd) vs. Washington on Oct. 12, 2007 (3-1 win). *Courtesy of the Elias Sports Bureau

This is the third time the Rangers tallied seven or more goals in a game this season, having previously defeated the Edmonton Oilers, 8-2, on Nov. 14 and the Washington Capitals, 7-0, on Dec. 12, both games at MSG.

Matt Gilroy registered his first career multi-goal game with two goals, led all skaters with four blocked shots and tied his career-high with a plus-three rating while earning first star honors. He has now recorded a plus-10 rating in his last 13 games, and has tallied three points (two goals, one assist) in the last two contests. Gilroy’s second goal at 12:08 of the second period was the eventual game-winner, and the Rangers improved to 4-0-1 when he registers a point.

Brian Boyle tallied a career-high, three points with one goal and two assists, posted a career-high, plus-three rating and led the team with nine faceoff wins in 13 attempts (69%). Boyle has now registered 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in the last 10 games.

The Rangers notched two power play goals in four attempts (5:57), and have now tallied a goal on the man advantage in eight of the last 11 games (9-40, 22.5% over the span). The Blueshirts also held the Islanders scoreless in two shorthanded situations, and now rank seventh in the NHL with a plus-seven rating on special teams.

Brandon Dubinsky registered his ninth multi-point effort of the season with one goal and one assist, and tied for the game-high with six shots on goal. He has now recorded 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in the last 11 games.

Marian Gaborik tallied two power play points (one goal, one assist), and tied for the game-high with six shots on goal in his return to the lineup after missing Thursday’s 4-3 shootout loss vs. Tampa Bay due to a groin strain. He has now recorded 19 points (10 goals, nine assists) in his last 19 games.

Derek Stepan extended his goal scoring streak to four games (four goals) with a power play tally at 10:34 of the third period, and added a power play assist for his fourth career multi-point performance. He has now recorded 17 points (eight goals, nine assists) in the last 21 games.

Mats Zuccarello registered his first career point with an assist on Derek Stepan’s power play goal at 10:34 of the third period, and was credited with three hits in the contest following his recall from Connecticut yesterday. Zuccarello made his NHL debut on Thursday vs. Tampa Bay.

Rangers’ Captain Chris Drury recorded two assists in the contest, and has now tallied four assists in the last four games.

Henrik Lundqvist made 18 saves to improve to 15-12-2 overall, including a 5-6-2 mark at MSG. He is now 8-4-1 with a 1.89 goals against average, a .929 save percentage and three shutouts in his last 13 games.

Ruslan Fedotenko notched one goal, posted a season-high, plus-three rating and was credited with a team-high, four hits. Fedotenko has tallied a goal in each of the last two games, and has registered three points (two goals, one assist) in the last four. The Rangers improved to 6-0-1 when he tallies a goal, and are 9-2-2 when he registers a point.

Defensemen Marc Staal and Michal Rozsival, and forwards Brandon Prust and Artem Anisimov each recorded one assist for the Rangers. Staal has now registered 11 points (three goals, eight assists) in the last 15 games, including six points (two goals, four assists) in the last seven. Anisimov has registered five points (two goals, three assists) in the last six games, with two assists in the last two.

The Blueshirts’ practice schedule for tomorrow, Dec. 28, is 11:00 a.m. at the MSG Training Center.

The Rangers will return to action when they face-off against the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday, Dec. 29, at Prudential Center (7:00 p.m.), to begin a three-game road trip. The game will be televised live on MSG Network and can be heard on 1050 ESPN Radio and newyorkrangers.com.

POST-GAME QUOTES

John Tortorella on the team’s play at home… “We’re just trying to play. We spent a lot of time thinking about it and talking about it prior to the season. We didn’t start out well but we just wanted to leave it alone, go out and continue to play. Grind through it and find ways to win hockey games. I think we are 7-3-1 in our last 11 games here, but we found a way. And we’re just trying to play, no matter where we’re playing, we’re just trying to play and I think we’ve been consistent.”

Matt Gilroy on playing against the Islanders… “It is nice. I grew up about two miles from that rink. I saw a lot of games there. It is good to be a part of the rivalry now. It was good to get the two goals.”

Than re-post my worries:
Don’t want to spoil my own pleasure, but I start worried about Wednesday game. Rangers have a nasty habit to lose after big wins. My hatred to Debbies can be only matched by my love to Rangers and they are now a wounded beast. And despite some disdain shown above, toward them, I wouldn’t underestimate Debbies and see’em to brake losing strike on Rangers. Can’t relax… and enjoy.

someone posted this on tsn’s message board. carp or anyone else know of these rumors?

” Del Zotto scratched again and Gilroy’s in, all sorts of fluff from the Rangers announcers about him. So I texted a buddy who’s in the MSG presser. The Rangers are shopping Gilroy and will package him in with Frolov.”
source: http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=347023

Mats Zuccarello drove three hours through the blizzard from Bridgeport Sunday night to play his second NHL game, during which he registered his first NHL point, an assist on Derek Stepan’s power play goal at 10:34 of the third period.
Zuccarello, 22, the Norwegian winger who made his NHL debut against Tampa on Thursday, played for the Connecticut Whale on Sunday and was called up again. His mother and step-father, visiting from Europe, had rented a car and he jumped in. “Their plane got cancelled, so they came to Bridgeport in the rental. I had no clothes, we just drove right here and stayed in a hotel. It’s (the weather) not that bad in Norway”

Zuccarello, who had three shots and three hits in 16:48, mostly playing with Marian Gaborik and Stepan said he didn’t know how long he would stick around, but it appears he will play against the Devils on Wednesday in Newark.

“The nerves are are out of the body, you know the drill around the locker room, you know the players a little more. (The point) is not that important, it’s more important that we win.”

maybe today gilroy and roszi have no trade value which I dispute but they may have much more at the trade deadline…….

meanwhile mcdonagh and valetenko are playing and learning in hartford. weise has a chance to be a nhl’er and zicarello is not exactly a 30 year old has been with no skill….

things are looking up. yep sather has made numerous stupid moves; brashear, gomez, drury, blowzival, boogard, etc… but he has made some damn good moves; traded gomez and got a return, drafted a ton of good young players over the last 5 years, got prospal for nothing basically. got boyle for a 3rd rounder, got prust for kotalik and other garbage etc…

what are people going to whine about? the team is very young, more talent on the way, and cap issues are not as terrible as they were…yes they need some elite scoring talent but so does almost every other team except detroit, pitt., and the caps…………..

bad contracts left are; boogard, roszi, drury, redden(stuck in the minors) and white(end of year), frolov(end of year), and that is about it….

Gilroy will get traded. The NYR will be looking for any NHL capable left shooting Dman.

I don’t think Drury should give a pizza box for Rozy. Maybe a couple napkins. I liked Rozy, and I thought he deserved a contract from Glen for his performance after the lockout. But he got WAY overpaid, and had the onus of performing to that contract. Everyone is saying he is playing so well. I don’t buy it. I think he is getting talked up by Torts to keep any glimmer of hope of trading him. Torts doesn’t want him. I though he was awful last night. The best play he made last night was knocking Gaborik down on a NYR power play.

Most interesting was the interview between Snotwig and Zucs between periods. ” How many times do people tell you,you look like Frodo ? ” Did you see the look on Zucs face I thought he was gonna get up and crash Snotwigs skull LOL Hey Snotwig how many times do people tell you you look and smell like the Cryptkeeper

Will someone please give me an intelligent rationale as to why Roszival is even on this team, let alone getting special placement on the ice in critical situations? And to think that they are looking to trade Gilroy…and retain Roszival?

“Will someone please give me an intelligent rationale as to why Roszival is even on this team, let alone getting special placement on the ice in critical situations? And to think that they are looking to trade Gilroy…and retain Roszival?

And where is nurse Ratchet when we really need her?”

Ratchet gave Rozi his labotomy the instant the ink dried on his contract.

Rozi is on this team because he was lobotomized by nurse Ratchet, and no one in the NHL wants him or his damaged brain on their team. Especially at that price. And if it werent for Ratchet’s other victim (Redden) Rozi’s carved up skull would be in Hartford too!!!

But I think the NYR are looking really good for 2012. Rozi expires, Drury expires, kids are 2 years older, and that real promising crop of young Dmen will be in the fold.

If MDZ played the way he has this season during the first nine games last year, they would have sent him back to Juniors. I’d love to trade him. Perhaps someone sees a big upside in him. I don’t. As it stands, who are you going to bench to play him other Rosz which is unlikely to happen. DZ is not going to get better sitting out. Hartford him.